🧵 THOROUGH
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
Thoroughness is the practice of staying present through the whole process. It’s the value of finishing well, not just starting strong. In the ADHD terrain—where beginnings are exciting but middles and ends can be foggy—thoroughness is both a challenge and a powerful transformation.
For ADHDers, tasks may start with energy but fade with fatigue, distraction, or overwhelm. Details may slip through, and the finish line might feel miles away. But being thorough isn’t about perfection. It’s about integrity in action. It’s saying: “This matters enough to complete.”
Living this value means pacing yourself through tasks instead of sprinting and crashing. It means putting care into things that deserve completion—not because you have to, but because it aligns with your identity. It’s not about doing everything thoroughly—it’s about doing the right things with presence and care.
Thoroughness also builds trust—with others, and with yourself. When ADHDers learn to follow through in a sustainable way, it creates momentum, pride, and peace of mind.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Am I rushing to be done—or taking the time that the task (and I) deserve?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who follows through—not perfectly, but with care and attention.
- People and Pursuits: Who respects my thoroughness instead of rushing me? What tasks feel satisfying to complete with care?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll complete one task fully—not just to finish, but to honour its value.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Executive dysfunction can block follow-through.
- Perfectionism may turn thoroughness into paralysis.
- ADHDers may abandon tasks due to boredom, distraction, or low dopamine.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Thoroughness
- Choose one task to complete with no multitasking.
- Use a timer to break longer tasks into focused “completion zones.”
- Create a “done list” to track what you actually finish (not just what you start).
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- What does it feel like when I complete something with care?
- Where in my life do I want to be more thorough—and why?
- How can I support my ADHD brain in following through, not just firing up?
Thoroughness isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters, with care, clarity, and a sense of pride.
